Device for supporting hospital patients and for the support of articles for transportation



Jan. 4, 1966 K. COVENTON 3,226,734

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FOR TRANSPORTATION S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1963 INVENTOR KENNARD COVENTON ATTORNEY 4, 1966 K. COVENTON 3,226,734

DEVICE FDR SUPPORTING HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FOR TRANSPORTATION Filed Sept. 30, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet z 21 2o 35 33 s i j 1: 28 ,3? 4 32 24 m 26 34 ,3? t 1 33 i 7* 3o $45 it 2| l6 IO INVENTOR KENNARD COVENTDN ATTORNEY 3,226,734 AND FOR THE TIgN Jan. 4, 1966 K. COVENTON DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING HOSPITAL PATIENTS SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FOR TRANSPORTA Filed Sept. 30, 1963 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR KENNARD OOVENTON 38 BY M W ,L

ATTORNEY such. as, for example, missiles and the like.

United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 4, 1966 3,226,734 DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FOR TRANSPORTATION Kennard Coventon, Ada, Okla., assignor of fifty percent to Orange M; Welbom, M.D., Ada, Pontotoc County, Okla;

Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,701 8 Claims. (Cl. -61) The presentinvention relates to a device for supporting hospital patients and for the support of articles for transportation and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a device which is especiallyadapted for: use as a. hospital bed but which also may be utilized as a support for articles to be shipped,

The device consists essentially of a framework in which is rotatablymounted at either end thereof an annular member. Four shafts longitudinally interconnect the annular members in substantially equidistantly spaced relation and straps more or less loosely interconnect adjacent pairs of such shafts. The straps extend transversely of the device and are so spaced that each set thereof extends partially-between the other set in alternate relation wherebya patient or a device to be supported in shipment may be placed between the thus interleaved straps. Novel supporting pads are afiixed to the straps substantially centrally thereof and extend laterally to overlap an adjacent strap whereby to provide a resilient contact surface for the bodies to be supported by the device.

of each of the straps individuallyand as a set. Means is also provided whereby a body supported in the device may be rotated therein acomplete 360 to provide ease of inspection or treatment thereof and means is also provided forlremoval of a single strap whereby a portion of the supported body may bemadeavailable for treatmentor inspection. Likewise, one set of straps may be removed whereupon the device may be utilized as an ordinary bed.

Itis accordingly an object of the invention toprovide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character set forth having novel means whereby a body supported therein may be rotated in a complete circle upon its horizontal axis.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in

a device of the character set forth, a novel arrangementof supporting straps forming a partof the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel resilient pad forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character set forth, of novel adjusting means for straps forming parts of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1,

Means are provided for adjusting the tension FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a resilient pad forming a part of the invention,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6, and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing a modification of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a rectangular base 10 having vertical standards 11, 12, 13 and 14 extending respectively from each corner of the base 10. A circular guide 15 is affixed by bolts 16 or the like to the standards 11 and 12 and a like guide 17 is aflixed to the standards 13 and 1 4 in parallel relation thereto.

An annular member 18 is rotatably mounted in the guide 15 and a like annular member 19 is rotatably' mounted in the guide 17. Four locking cleats 20 provided with thumb screws 21 are affixed to the guide 15 to maintain the annular member 18 in selected positions therein While a like number of locking cleats 22 are afiixed to the guide 17 and provided with thumb screws 23 for maintaining the annular member 19 in selected positions in the guide 17. It is obvious that other mechanical arrangments can be made, e.g., set screws can be used in place of thumb screws 21, etc.

Four shafts 24, 25, 26and 27 are rotatably mounted in and interconnect the annular members 18 and 19 in circumfercntially spaced relation to one another, the shafts extending through the annular member 18 and terminating in discs 28, 29, 30 and 31, respectively. Each of the discs is provided with an eccentrically mounted handle 32 and a set screw 33 extends therethrough to bear against the annular member 18. A pair of support rods 34 rigidly interconnect the annular members 18 and 19.

Rotatably mounted upon each of the shafts 24, 25, 26 and 27, is a series of collars 35 in end-to-end relationship. Straps 36 interconnect with collars on the shafts 24 and 25 and extend generally laterally of the device in spaced relation to one another while straps 37 interconnect with collars on the shafts 26 and 27. The collars 35 are each adjustably positionable with respect to their respective shafts by means of thumbscrews 38 or the like. The straps 36, it will be seen, interleave the straps 37, each series extending through the other, as will be seen, for example, in FIGURES l and 2, in looped arrangement. As viewed in FIGURE 2, the undersides of the straps 36 and the upper sides of the straps 37 are each centrally provided with a pad 39, which extends, in each case, laterally approximately the width of one strap, whereby to fill in an area unsupported by said straps. Other strap designs can be used so as to provide a continuous surface, such as that shown in FIG. 8 wherein an enlarged portion 39a is provided in the strap 36.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the device is to be of such strength and size as to be appropriate to the object to be supported. The supporting straps will be of such strength, resiliency and construction to serve the purpose whether it be to support a human, animal or manufactured object. For example, the straps would be padded for human support or reinforced with metal wire to support a heavy object.

The straps 36 are interconnected with the collars as indicated above by any suitable means known to the art. As shown in FIGURE 4, the straps are overlapped several turns to provide for such interlocking.

In operation, it will be apparent that the body of a hospital patient 40 or an object to be transported or 3 over the body as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to completely turned, as above indicated, may be placed upon the straps 36 whereupon the device may be used as an ordinary bed. However, the straps 37 may then be positioned hold the body. The collars 35 may be adjusted to, in turn, adjust any particular strap 36 or 37 to snugly hold the body 44?. Now, if it is desiredto inspect or operate upon any part of the body, the cleats 30 may be loosened and the annular members 18 and 19 together with their attached mechanisms including the shafts and straps may be revolved in the guides 15 and 17 to any desired position throughout 360 and then locked in such position by the screws 21. Again, if it is desired to provide access to a particular portion of the body 40 for any purpose, it is only necessary to remove one of the straps 36 or 37 at the area desired.

It may also be pointed out that a patient 40 or other body may be inserted thru either end of device by first loosening both or either set of straps 36 and 37 by means of the handles 32 and thereafter again bringing the straps together by the same means and thereafter locking them in desired position by means of the screws 33. It will also be seen that the pads 39 acts to provide a more comfortable area for those portions of the straps which come into contact with the human body while at the same time providing additional insurance against jarring when the device is used for transporting delicate mechanisms such as, for example, missiles or the like. The device, it will likewise be apparent, lends itself ideally to use by patients in iron lungs, or handling helpless or paralyzed patients or one whose condition is such that other means of turning, rotating or transporting the patient is extremely hazardous to the patient.

While-but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. For example, it would be possible for straps to fasten to the shafts 180 apart, e.g-. strap 36 to'shafts 24 and 27 while strap 37 is afiixed to shafts 25 and 216. It is also obvious that the pad or filler 39 canextend an equal distance on either side of strap 36 and that configurations other than angular can be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a pair of circular guide members mounted in said frame, a circular support member rotatably mounted in each of said guide members, two pairs of shafts interconnecting said support members, and two series of transversely extending spaced straps, each series interconnecting a separate pair of shafts, the straps of each series extending between adjacent straps of the other series.

2. A device of the character described cimprising a frame, a pair of circular guide members mounted in said frame,.a circular support member rotatably mounted in each of said guide members, two pairs of shafts interconnecting said support members, two' series of transversely extending Spaced straps, each series interconnecting a separate pair of shafts, the strapsof'eaiih series extending between adjacent straps of the other series, and means for latching said support members to said guide members.

3. A, device of the character described comprising a frame, a pair of circular'guide members mounted in said frame, a circular support member rotatably mounted in each of said guide members, two pairs of shafts interconcent ends of said shafts, a handle eccentrically affixed to I each of said discs, and a screw extending through each of said discs and adapted to bear against the adjacent support member.

5. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a pair of circular guide members mounted in said frame, a circular support member rotatably mounted in"- each of said guide members, two pairs of shafts intercon' necting said support members, and two series of transversely extending spaced straps, each series alternatelyinter'cohnecting a separate pair of shafts, the straps of each series extending between adjacent' straps of the other series, and means for adjusting the effective length of each of said straps. y

6. A device a defined in claim 5 wherein said last named means comprises a collar afiixed to each end of each of said shafts, said collars being rotatably'mounted' on their respective shafts, and a screw extending through each collar and adapted to bear against its associated shaft.

'7. A device of the character described comprising aframe, a pair of circular guide members mounted in said frame, a circular-support memberrotat-ably mounted in each of said guide members, two pairs of shafts intercom necting said support members, two series of transversely extending spaced straps, each series alternately'intercomnecting a separate pair of shafts,the straps of eachseries;

extending between adjacentstraps of'the other series, and a support pad extending laterally from the central portion of each of said straps. 1

3. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein said padextends laterally substantially the width of said strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED. STATES PATENTS 552,672 1/1896 Souney et a1. 5 -6-1 1,667,982 5/1928 Pearson 5- 2-20 2,188,592 1/1940 Cunningham v 5-61 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. C. A. NUNBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A FRAME, A PAIR OF CIRCULAR GUIDE MEMBERS MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME, A CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS, TWO PAIRS OF SHAFTS INTERCONNECTING SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, AND TWO SERIES OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SPACED STRAPS, EACH SERIES INTERCONNECTING A SEPARATE PAIR OF SHAFTS, THE STRAPS OF EACH SERIES EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT STRAPS OF THE OTHER SERIES. 